Gold Coast Titans strip Greg Bird of leadership role

By Ed Jackson

Test and NSW rugby league star Greg Bird has been dumped from the Gold Coast captaincy and fined after embarrassing the NRL club with his public urination.

Bird was issued with a criminal infringement notice on Monday after being spotted relieving himself beside a police car in Byron Bay late on Sunday night, less than 24 hours after his wedding in the northern NSW town.

Stood down: The Titans have stripped Greg Bird, right, of the co-captain's role at the club.

Photo: Getty Images

Titans chief executive Graham Annesley announced on Friday that the NRL club's disciplinary committee had decided to axe Bird from his role as co-captain and fine him $15,000.

Bird was also put on notice that any further transgressions could lead to him being sacked.

The Titans are still without a major sponsor for 2015 and the Bird incident was seen as unacceptable, damaging the club's standing in the community.

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"This is the last thing we want to be dealing with," Annesley said.

"We're trying to point this club in the right direction, take it forward. This has set us back, there's no question about that."

Annesley said it would be up to coach Neil Henry whether Nate Myles now became the club's sole captain or if a different leadership structure was adopted.

The news capped a horror week for Bird, who injured a medial ligament at training on Thursday and will have scans over coming days to determine the extent of the injury.

Young flyer James Roberts was also fined $3000 by the club for an unrelated incident.

The dynamic outside back, who in his brief career has already been sacked by South Sydney and Penrith, was arrested during a boozy night out in October.

Charges of public nuisance and obstructing police were dropped in a Gold Coast court on Wednesday but the Titans still punished Roberts for his behaviour.

As well as the fine, Roberts must undergo any rehabilitation the club decides and is also on notice that further bad behaviour could see his contract torn up.

Both incidents involved alcohol, but Annesley said the club would not be imposing a booze ban on its players.

"We're dealing with adults. You can't be with these players 24/7, babysitting them every step of the way," he said.

"People have to take personal responsibility for their own actions."

Meantime, the bookies do not rate St George Illawarra, but Josh Dugan says he has never experienced such a tight, unified team in his NRL career and it augurs well.

Betting odds on the Dragons in the 2015 season have drifted since they lost Brett Morris to Canterbury, plus Kyle Stanley, Gerard Beale and Jack Bird to the Sharks without recruiting any big-name replacements after finishing 11th this year.

But representative star Dugan likes what he is seeing in the pre-season and believes exceptional camaraderie in coach Paul McGregor's squad could help them surprise a few people.

"This is the best sort of bond that I've had as a player in any club," Dugan said. "We're a tight-knit group this year.

"I think our coffee group is nearly our whole squad, so we're always going for breaks and things together and always trying to hang out.

"This is the closest I've ever felt as a team and I think that's showing on the field as well. You can see it. The boys are pushing each other at training and trying to get that little extra step.

"So it's definitely promising."

The prized NSW Blues' fullback spot is up for grabs in the next State of Origin series after Jarryd Hayne's departure from the game and Dugan is sure to be considered for it despite his successful transition to centre for the Dragons and Blues last year.